It is necessary to verify the complete composition, concentration, operating temperature, and whether the medium contains particulate matter. Plates are commonly made of 304, 316L, or titanium; gaskets can be selected from nitrile rubber (NBR, -20°C to 110°C), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM, -40°C to 150°C), or fluoroelastomer (FKM, -20°C to 200°C). When chloride ions are present, titanium plates with EPDM gaskets are recommended.
Taking the intermediate cooling of a fine chemical plant as an example: the material is cooled from 85°C to 45°C, the hot side flow rate is about 12 m³/h, and the cooling water inlet on the cold side is 32°C. Plate heat exchangers have a higher heat transfer coefficient and occupy less space for the same heat exchange duty; however, shell-and-tube heat exchangers have better tolerance to particulate matter. If the material contains a small amount of particles, the risk of flow channel blockage must be evaluated.
According to the above working condition, the heat load is about 558 kW (estimated based on a material specific heat of 3.5 kJ/(kg·°C)). The BR-85 model has a single-plate heat exchange area of 0.85 m², and about 80 plates can meet the requirement. The plate material is selected as 316L, the gasket as EPDM, the design pressure is 1.0 MPa, and the design temperature is 150°C. The actual selection must be reviewed by a process engineer based on physical property parameters.
Regularly inspect gasket aging, plate scaling, and corrosion. Avoid using a wire brush during cleaning; chemical cleaning or high-pressure water rinsing is recommended. During disassembly and assembly, tighten the bolts evenly in a diagonal sequence to prevent leakage.
